site.btaAgriculture Minister to Tour Ovine Rinderpest Hotspots

Sofia, July 14 (BTA) - Prime Minister Boyko Borissov has ordered Agriculture Minister Roumen Porozhanov to tour all settlements where ovine rinderpest has been detected and to meet with the affected farmers, the government press service reported on Saturday. The tour will start from Sharkovo in the southeastern Yambol Region.

On Friday, farmers launched indefinite protests over what they see as serious problems in the sector. They complain that they have to sell their output at low prices, that their sheep and goats are being culled due to an outbreak of ovine rinderpest, and that they get insufficient compensation for losing their animals in that way. Protesters in the northern Veliko Turnovo Region blocked the Sofia-Varna road. Others blocked roads in the southeastern Bolyarovo Municipality. In Sharkovo (Bolyarovo Municipality), farmers are protesting against the culling of their animals due to the ovine rinderpest outbreak. They urged the Bulgarian Food Safety Agency to cancel the culling until indisputable evidence is found about the type of the disease.

Agriculture Minister Porozhanov will monitor the implementation of the measures against the spread of ovine rinderpest. He will inform owners about the terms and conditions of obtaining compensation for culled animals.

The Agriculture Ministry said that compensation for culled sheep and goats in ovine-rinderpest-affected areas in Yambol and Bourgas regions will begin to be provided on Monday.

Safety measures are being tightened in the affected municipalities in Yambol and Bourgas regions. Disinfection sites will be set up at the entry/exit points of settlements within the 10 km monitoring zone around the disease hotspots. Disinfection will be compulsory for all passing vehicles and people.